Facebook moved to increase its share of mobile use today, releasing an anticipated expansion of its Facebook Messenger app update. Among other features, the update allowed easy messaging with anyone in users’ contacts lists who have the Facebook Messenger app. Now all Android users can use Facebook Messenger’s new features, and they’ve finally come to iOS too!
Facebook Messenger’s new features originally rolled out to a small test group of Android users. The company announced last month that the update would expand to all Android and iOS users and it finally rolled today.
The most important feature of the new update is the ability of users to message anyone in their contacts who has the Messenger app, not just those they are Facebook friends with. This is an important move in Facebook’s bid for SMS replacement superiority. It’s up against a slew of competitors such as WhatsApp.
Grab Facebook Messenger for iOS in the App Store, and the Android version in the Google Play Store now. For more information, check out Facebook’s press release below:
Testing a New Messenger Experience on Android
November 13, 2013
UPDATE: Starting today, the new Messenger experience will be available more broadly to people using the app on both iOS and Android.As more and more people use Facebook to connect with their friends on mobile, we are focused on building the best mobile products. Facebook messaging started as a desktop chat experience, but when it comes to messaging on mobile, people want something faster and lighter weight.
Starting today, we’re testing an update to Messenger on Android that makes it a faster and more reliable mobile-to-mobile messaging experience. More details on the features being tested are below.
Reach people faster
You’ll know which friends are using the app if you see the Messenger icon Testing a New Messenger Experience on Android next to their name. If you see the Messenger icon, that means your friend is also using the mobile Messenger app, and will get notified instantly about your message.
Testing a New Messenger Experience on Android
Message your contacts
What about the people you text with who aren’t your Facebook friends? Now you just need a contact’s phone number to begin texting others using Messenger. To help people reach you, you’ll be asked to confirm your phone number.Testing a New Messenger Experience on Android
The new look
With a fresh, new look, Messenger is easier to get around. Tap across the top of the app or swipe left and right to see recent conversations, a list of the people you message, and settings.Testing a New Messenger Experience on Android
Beginning today, we will be testing this new experience with a limited number of people using Messenger for Android.Learn more in the Help Center, and see more of the new experience at www.facebook.com/mobile/messenger.
Download screenshots for iOS and Android here.
[Via: Facebook]